EM "Effective Microorganisms"

Introduction of EM

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Howto & Style

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• Environment

[Keyspoet27]

In addition to composting kitchen wastes, EM and different strains of microorganisms are being used worldwide in tests to clean up toxic sites, such as those that have been contaminated by petroleum and chemical spills. In all cases I have read about so far, the EM microbes succeeded in cleaning up the toxins FAR faster than other more commonly used methods, with no harm and many benefits to the environment in the process.

[Keyspoet27]

This is basically the same as bokashi, using the same microorganisms, and it is a proven technology that does indeed work. Used for planting trees and shrubs, they do fabulously well, and produce sooner than those planted without it. In addition, if you add a step and put the resulting pickled wastes into an earthworm bed, the earthworms go nuts (in a good way), as do the plants on which the resulting compost is ultimately used.

[EMAmericaEric]

@ScottHorn9

Did you check Bergey’s Manual, 8th ed.? I found a paper from 1984 that states this is possible and cites Bergey's as the source for the information: "In this latter edition the ability of the species to use sulfide as the sole photosynthetic electron donor and to form elemental sulfur as an intermediate oxidation product, inside or outside cells..." The paper was written by JOHANNES F. IMHOFF INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC BACTERIOLOGY, July 1984, p. 338-339.

[ScottHorn9]

@ypharr

It did seem that all the people I talked to had a sort of "cult-like" mentality. They were fiercely opposed to anyone that questioned the product. Their dismissal of this criticism always seemed to call into question science by saying "there are some things that science just doesn't understand, but I do". I don't know if the people I worked with were affiliated with this cult, but they would probably be eager to sign up.

[ScottHorn9]

@EMAmericaEric

Incorrect. I consulted with our supplier, as well as a few independent (but pro-EM) consultants on the matter. All the above demonstrated no knowledge of microbiology and were unable to provide any information about how the culture they sold was actually supposed to work. My own research showed that the claims made by the manufacturer we scientifically impossible (that this culture could oxidize sulfides to either sulfate or elemental sulfur without an electron donor present).

[ypharr]

If you ask me it's a way for them to introduce their sect named Sukyo Mahikari and get more members.

[redeyeddawn]

@tommy186

Why is it bullshit?

[tommy186]

just in case you don't know: EM is bullshit!

[EMAmericaEric]

@ScottHorn9

I venture to guess you were not taught how to properly use the product nor have you looked on the internet for peer reviewed research. There are today roughly 60 peer reviewed articles on various elements of the EM Technology. Most are on agriculture and the others on EMX for health.

[EMAmericaEric]

@nebuflex

You cannot make EM1 from mountain soil. There is a certain balance of microbes in the formulation that you cannot reproduce from a wild fermentation.